Conventions of Documentary film making

The following are some leading conventions of documentary making:


Aim-The aim of a documentary is to inform. Also to record important recent events, to broaden opinions, and to gain interest from the public.

Voice over-Many documentaries involve voice overs. The film maker, or interveners voice that narrates the action. This voice can be spoken whilst filming, or recorded and added in the editing process. Through this voice over, the film maker can explain tot he viewer, the events and opinions on the seen action.

Interviews-An interview is very common in documentary making. It allows the main person in the documentary to give there views, and professionals opinions, prompted y the interviewer (weather or not the questions are heard by the viewer is down to the style the film maker pursues).  The interview in a documentary is important, as it adds realism to the documentary, and backs up the points the interviewer is making. To involve appropriate interview sections, the film maker may interview their subject for an hour, and only show 10 minutes of interview footage in the film. Making sure the footage they show is appropriate and needed to fit the them of the film.

Archive Footage-Some documentaries may involve archive footage, used to show the viewer the events that the documentary is about. Archive footage is valuable as a start to the documentary, especially if the documentary is about a current event, or current phenomenon.

Reconstruction-A reconstruction may be used to show the viewer about events that have happened in the past-such a documentary about WW1.

Montage-A montage sequence is sued to link word to action. Such as in an interview section. Whilst the subject is answering, the film maker may edit a series of shots the viewers can see, linking to the sound. A montage can also be used to show a change in time or location. Montages are also effective in triggering emotion.

Exposition- Exposition is a part at the start of a documentary that highlights what the documentary is going to be about.